Separator assembly

Abstract

A novel separator assembly for a spiral flow reverse osmosis apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the separator assembly comprises a central core element comprising at least one permeate exhaust conduit and at least one concentrate exhaust conduit. Each exhaust conduit defines an exhaust channel and one or more openings allowing fluid communication between an exterior surface of the exhaust conduit and the exhaust channel, said exhaust conduits independently defining a cavity between said conduits. The cavity is configured to accommodate a first portion of a membrane stack assembly comprising at least one feed carrier layer, at least one permeate carrier layer, and at least one membrane layer. A first portion of the membrane stack assembly is disposed within the cavity, and a second portion of the membrane stack assembly is wound around the central core element and forms a multilayer membrane assembly disposed around the central core element.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A separator assembly comprising:
 (a) a central core element comprising at least one permeate exhaust conduit and at least one concentrate exhaust conduit, 
 each of said exhaust conduits defining an exhaust channel and one or more openings which allow fluid communication between an exterior surface of the exhaust conduit and the exhaust channel, 
 said exhaust conduits comprising at least one spacer element defining a cavity between said exhaust conduits, 
 said cavity being configured to accommodate a first portion of a membrane stack assembly; and 
 (b) a membrane stack assembly comprising at least one feed carrier layer, at least one permeate carrier layer, and at least one membrane layer; 
 wherein said first portion of the membrane stack assembly is disposed within the cavity defined by the exhaust conduits, and 
 wherein a second portion of the membrane stack assembly forms a multilayer membrane assembly disposed around the central core element. 
 
     
     
       2. The separator assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the exhaust conduits is selected from the group consisting of porous half-octagon shaped tubes, porous half-decahedron shaped tubes, and porous half tetradecahedron shaped tubes. 
     
     
       3. The separator assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein all said exhaust conduits have identical shapes. 
     
     
       4. The separator assembly according to  claim 1  comprising at least four exhaust conduits. 
     
     
       5. The separator assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said exhaust conduits comprises a blocking element. 
     
     
       6. The separator assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the exhaust conduits define one or more grooves configured to secure an o-ring. 
     
     
       7. The separator assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the central core element defines at least two cavities configured to accommodate a first portion of a membrane stack assembly. 
     
     
       8. A separator assembly comprising:
 (a) a central core element comprising at least one permeate exhaust conduit and at least one concentrate exhaust conduit, 
 each of said exhaust conduits defining an exhaust channel and one or more openings which allow fluid communication between an exterior surface of the exhaust conduit and the exhaust channel, 
 said exhaust conduits independently defining a cavity between said exhaust conduits, 
 said cavity being configured to accommodate a first portion of a membrane stack assembly; and 
 (b) a membrane stack assembly comprising at least one feed carrier layer, at least one permeate carrier layer, and at least one membrane layer; 
 wherein said first portion of the membrane stack assembly is disposed within the cavity defined by the exhaust conduits, and 
 wherein a second portion of the membrane stack assembly forms a multilayer membrane assembly disposed around the central core element. 
 
     
     
       9. The separator assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the exhaust conduits is selected from the group consisting of porous half-octagon shaped tubes, porous half-decahedron shaped tubes, and porous half tetradecahedron shaped tubes. 
     
     
       10. The separator assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein all said exhaust conduits have identical shapes. 
     
     
       11. The separator assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein at least one of said exhaust conduits comprises a blocking element. 
     
     
       12. A spiral flow reverse osmosis apparatus comprising:
 (a) a pressurizable housing; and 
 (b) a separator assembly comprising: (i) a central core element comprising at least one permeate exhaust conduit and at least one concentrate exhaust conduit, each of said permeate exhaust conduit and concentrate exhaust conduit defining an exhaust channel and one or more openings which allow fluid communication between an exterior surface of the exhaust conduit and the exhaust channel, said permeate exhaust conduit and said concentrate exhaust conduit comprising at least one spacer element defining a cavity between said permeate exhaust conduit and said concentrate exhaust conduit, said cavity being configured to accommodate a first portion of a membrane stack assembly; and (ii) a membrane stack assembly comprising at least one feed carrier layer, at least one permeate carrier layer, and at least one membrane layer; 
 wherein said first portion of the membrane stack assembly is disposed within said cavity, and 
 wherein a second portion of the membrane stack assembly forms a multilayer membrane assembly disposed around the central core element. 
 
     
     
       13. The spiral flow reverse osmosis membrane apparatus according to  claim 12 , comprising a plurality of separator assemblies. 
     
     
       14. A separator assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the exhaust conduits is selected from the group consisting of porous half-octagon shaped tubes, porous half-decahedron shaped tubes, and porous half-tetradecahedron shaped tubes.